Almonte Not Done Just Yet

Kim Leder

08/13/2012

Back in June, outfielder Abraham Almonte was on fire at the plate and in centerfield, focusing on getting the pitches he wanted and not his statistics. Unfortunately during one of his most seasons to date, the leadoff hitter was forced to take some time off with a leg injury, something he has been familiar with in previous years.

"It was hard for me because I never thought that [I would get hurt]," Almonte said. "It's like, everything in baseball you have to make adjustments on trying to find a way to feel better and take advantage of all those things. I am able [to do that].

"It feels great to be back. I am happy to be back. Every day you think about when you will be back and how you were doing before.

"Now I am back and it feels great to come back and help my team. I want to do the same things that I was doing before the injury and try to have fun in the game."

It was a 7:05 pm game and hours before in the Trenton Thunder Clubhouse Abraham Almonte readied himself for his first game back since being sent down to Tampa on the DL. With the go-ahead from training staff, Almonte made his way to the field, preparing himself against the Reading Phillies bullpen with stretches and practice swings.

The bottom of the first and third went similar for the Dominican Republic native who got called out on swings. After making some simple adjustments, Abe doubled on a line drive to centerfield in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring moments later. The sixth inning went similar, for Abe also doubled on a line drive to left field. The Thunder went on to win 4-3.

"It was a big hit for us to lose him," Thunder manager Tony Franklin said. "He was pretty much our catalyst for most part of the season. We lost an All Star player when he went down and we started to wonder how we were going to replace this guy. His on base percentage was good. He was the leadoff batter hitting for power. He could steal a base.

"He did so many things offensively and defensively as well. It kind of threw us for a loop there for a minute but we survived it. Now that he is back, we are happy to have him back and the biggest thing is that he is well and healthy and able to complete what is left of the season."

"It was a good game," a smiling Almonte said when asked about his August 7th return. "My first two at-bats were strikeouts but I made the adjustments. I always have in my mind that things sometimes don't always go the way you want but it doesn't mean you're not going to do well."

The remainder of the 2012 season can't disappoint for the 5-foot-9, 205 pound centerfielder. With four home runs, 24 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases, it is easy to say Abraham is not finished here yet. With his leg injury getting farther into the past, the main concern right now is keeping him healthy and happy.

"He does have to be a little more cautious now," Franklin said. "We have to make sure his legs will hold up through the remainder of the season. We have to be diligent enough to ask him and trust him to tell us the truth on how he is feeling.

"If his legs don't feel really well, then we have an opportunity to take him out of the game and give him a day's rest or two and get him right back in there.

"We'll probably more cautious than he will. Once they get out on that field, they go full force. We'll have to be the ones that make sure everything is clicking for him; make sure that he isn't showing any side effects from the injury."

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\r\n \r\n\r\n\"It was hard for me because I never thought that [I would get hurt],\" Almonte said. \"It's like, everything in baseball you have to make adjustments on trying to find a way to feel better and take advantage of all those things. I am able [to do that].\r\n\r\n\"It feels great to be back. I am happy to be back. Every day you think about when you will be back and how you were doing before.\r\n\r\n\"Now I am back and it feels great to come back and help my team. I want to do the same things that I was doing before the injury and try to have fun in the game.\"\r\n\r\nIt was a 7:05 pm game and hours before in the Trenton Thunder Clubhouse Abraham Almonte readied himself for his first game back since being sent down to Tampa on the DL. With the go-ahead from training staff, Almonte made his way to the field, preparing himself against the Reading Phillies bullpen with stretches and practice swings.\r\n\r\nThe bottom of the first and third went similar for the Dominican Republic native who got called out on swings. After making some simple adjustments, Abe doubled on a line drive to centerfield in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring moments later. The sixth inning went similar, for Abe also doubled on a line drive to left field. The Thunder went on to win 4-3.\r\n\r\n\"It was a big hit for us to lose him,\" Thunder manager Tony Franklin said. \"He was pretty much our catalyst for most part of the season. We lost an All Star player when he went down and we started to wonder how we were going to replace this guy. His on base percentage was good. He was the leadoff batter hitting for power. He could steal a base.\r\n\r\n\"He did so many things offensively and defensively as well. It kind of threw us for a loop there for a minute but we survived it. Now that he is back, we are happy to have him back and the biggest thing is that he is well and healthy and able to complete what is left of the season.\"\r\n\r\n\"It was a good game,\" a smiling Almonte said when asked about his August 7th return. \"My first two at-bats were strikeouts but I made the adjustments. I always have in my mind that things sometimes don't always go the way you want but it doesn't mean you're not going to do well.\"\r\n\r\nThe remainder of the 2012 season can't disappoint for the 5-foot-9, 205 pound centerfielder. With four home runs, 24 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases, it is easy to say Abraham is not finished here yet. With his leg injury getting farther into the past, the main concern right now is keeping him healthy and happy.\r\n\r\n\"He does have to be a little more cautious now,\" Franklin said. \"We have to make sure his legs will hold up through the remainder of the season. We have to be diligent enough to ask him and trust him to tell us the truth on how he is feeling.\r\n\r\n\"If his legs don't feel really well, then we have an opportunity to take him out of the game and give him a day's rest or two and get him right back in there.\r\n\r\n\"We'll probably more cautious than he will. Once they get out on that field, they go full force. We'll have to be the ones that make sure everything is clicking for him; make sure that he isn't showing any side effects from the injury.\"\r\n\r\n

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